‘Alleged conspiracy vs Rody mere ploy to silence critics’

MANILA, Philippines — The alleged conspiracy between the Liberal Party (LP) and the communists to supposedly bring down the Duterte government is a Malacañang-designed scenario to clamp down on critics opposing an authoritarian rule.

The National Democratic Front (NDF) said this yesterday as it stressed the political party and the communists have no formal alliance but are now fighting a common enemy – the authoritarian rule of President Duterte.

The NDF is the umbrella organization representing the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army rebels in the suspended peace talks with the government.

“It appears that such claim of conspiracy is aimed at setting the stage to clamp down on the politician opposition and other forces standing up against moves to establishment Duterte’s authoritarian rule,” the NDF said.

What is supposed to be the LP-CPP conspiracy as claimed by Duterte is in fact the product of his repressive governance against the ordinary people.

“Duterte is intolerant of all opposition and dissent. He intends on monopolizing political power. Duterte wants to clamp down and silence all who disagree with his policies and methods,” the NDF statement said.

The leftist Makabayan group said Duterte’s claim of conspiracy between the “reds” and the “yellows” to oust him was “fake news.”

“There is no such conspiracy or alliance. Nonetheless, whatever color of the political spectrum whether they be red, yellow or whatnot, we are being compelled by present circumstances and the march of history to fight separately, and/or jointly, the tyranny of the US-Duterte regime,” the group said. 

“Duterte has only himself to blame for the widening and deepening dissent and the rising of tens of thousands and millions against his tyrannical rule. It seems that President Duterte is weaving tall tales as a prelude to a crackdown on his critics and the opposition and nationwide martial rule,” Makabayan said.

“It would be better for him to listen to the true voice of the majority of the Filipino people who are now standing up against extra-judicial killings, tyranny and endemic corruption of the Duterte administration. If not, then Duterte will suffer the same fate as his idol, the ousted dictator Marcos,” it said.

By “reds,” the President was referring to the communists while the “yellows” to former president Benigno Aquino III, his Liberal Party and their supporters.

Duterte has also claimed that his enemies were using Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to oust him.

He has vowed to file impeachment cases against Sereno and Morales, though the chief justice is already facing an impeachment process at the House of Representatives.

The NDF also slammed the launching of the Citizen National Guard (CNG) supposedly to protect the President from any groups out to destabilize the government.

The NDF described the CNG as a vigilante group. It said the creation and launching by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta is only encouraging attacks against those whom they considered as enemies of the state. 

The NDF also said Duterte’s resorting to strong-arm tactics only showed his desperation, underscoring his political isolation.

“His triple war of death and destruction… has roused widespread people’s resistance. Calls for his ouster continue to mount,” the NDF said.  – With Jess Diaz